No.3 Traditions St.Louis Hawken Build Complete

FrontierGander · February 4, 2020, 09:04 PM

Built this one for a friend of mine over the winter. Just went slow, enjoyed and took my time. I installed actual traditional sights ( not the plastic factory stuff ) a new Hotshot nipple & flash cup. Fully bedded the barrel and tang. She is rock solid!

The stock has a 600 grit finish, 10 coats of genuine oil, light faux maple stripes. All steel was slow rust browned. Brass was buffed back with a 800 grit scuffing pad and will be allowed to age naturally.

A hickory ramrod was also added to replace the factory derlin ramrod.

Old No7 · February 5, 2020, 07:19 AM

Well done! Looks great!

Somebody HAD to say something about such a nice rifle -- good job.

Old No7

spitpatch · February 5, 2020, 12:01 PM

Very nice. What process did you use to get the tiger stripes?

FrontierGander · February 5, 2020, 12:32 PM

laural mountain forge, a thin paint brush. Each stripe got between 4 to 6 coats before being buffed back with 0000 steel wool. I didnt want crazy striping, just enough to make the wood pop out a little in the sun light.

This was probably my best work at faux striping.

Pahoo · February 5, 2020, 03:42 PM

Very nice work and you managed to maintain some sharp lines and finish. Did not know that they are now suppling these with Delrin rods. I put mine together about 10 years ago and it was Hickory. I always like the option of having both rods, optional. …..

Be Safe !!!

**4V50 Gary** · February 5, 2020, 09:36 PM

How hard was it? I read Traditions and shuddered at the thought. I did the smaller trapper pistol and had to re-drill the ramrod hole and file down the drum to provide clearance for the lock.

FrontierGander · February 5, 2020, 09:39 PM

this one fell right into place. I love working with the traditions guns. I'll be doing one, possibly two, for the rendezvous this june as a give away.

maillemaker · February 6, 2020, 01:15 PM

That is probably the best looking kit gun I've ever seen.

Steve

J.G. Terry · February 6, 2020, 03:46 PM

No doubt, that is a topnotch job.

Oliver Sudden · February 6, 2020, 05:23 PM

Both rifles are very nice. Your finish work is enviable! You might consider doing some shaping on the lock panels on your next one to move it up to even a better looking job. None the less they will be real fine prizes.

Hawg · February 7, 2020, 01:44 PM

Beautiful rifle. You did an excellent job on it.

**4V50 Gary** · February 7, 2020, 03:37 PM

That's awfully nice of you FrontierGander to make it for a giveaway. Did you go to the Rendezvous at Whittington Center last year? I didn't make it. I just came back from Friendship and had too many things to catch up on. I hope to attend this year (2020) and would like to meet you.

Deltadart · February 9, 2020, 01:48 PM

That is a beautiful rifle, great work.

bn12gg · February 11, 2020, 01:10 PM

Sweet !

Catman42 · February 12, 2020, 03:41 PM

i dont get the st. louis part of it. its a traditions. your improving but need a better stain. your not getting that beech wood stock to be what it could be. again a traditions is a traditions, nothing like a st. louis gun by hawken. nice tack job on the other one you posted. do better on the stain next time.

Pahoo · February 12, 2020, 04:11 PM

Quote:

i dont get the st. louis part of it.

It's just the name of the model; nothing more or less.

I wish I had a dollar for every non-replica SideLock M/L that was called a Hawken. Back during the last renascence there were more than you could keep track of. None even came close …..

Be Safe !!!

FrontierGander · February 12, 2020, 06:44 PM

Yes I did Gary, I was there the whole week and will be there again this year. Im helping out with the rendezvous this year. Last saturday and the booshway and a buddy of mine got together and cleaned out the supply shed, built shelves and took note of what we need to upgrade this year.

Hawg · February 12, 2020, 10:53 PM

Quote:

i dont get the st. louis part of it. its a traditions. your improving but need a better stain. your not getting that beech wood stock to be what it could be. again a traditions is a traditions, nothing like a st. louis gun by hawken. nice tack job on the other one you posted. do better on the stain next time.

You don't get around much do ya? CVA sold their St Louis Hawken for many years. I've got one around here somewhere. Traditions sells the same rifle. What's wrong with the stain? I think he did a good job on it.

FrontierGander · February 13, 2020, 02:24 AM

theres nothing wrong with the stain, its even and highlights the wood. It was very plain except for the forearm i pictured above. I added the faux striping to help add a little something to the rather plain wood. If I wanted something super fancy I'd have bought a more expensive kit, but then again, that would have added more cost.

gwpercle · February 13, 2020, 11:45 AM

Most Excellent Job !!!
Both wood and metal show a lot of careful hand work and attention to detail .
Gary

woodnbow · February 15, 2020, 10:32 AM

I’ve always heard they are good shooters. Now it looks as good as it shoots.

February 4, 2020, 09:04 PM	#1
FrontierGander Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: Boncarbo,Colorado Posts: 651	No.3 Traditions St.Louis Hawken Build Complete Built this one for a friend of mine over the winter. Just went slow, enjoyed and took my time. I installed actual traditional sights ( not the plastic factory stuff ) a new Hotshot nipple & flash cup. Fully bedded the barrel and tang. She is rock solid! The stock has a 600 grit finish, 10 coats of genuine oil, light faux maple stripes. All steel was slow rust browned. Brass was buffed back with a 800 grit scuffing pad and will be allowed to age naturally. A hickory ramrod was also added to replace the factory derlin ramrod. __________________ https://buckskinsbp.blogspot.com/

February 5, 2020, 07:19 AM	#2
Old No7 Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Posts: 60	Well done! Looks great! Somebody HAD to say something about such a nice rifle -- good job. Old No7 __________________ "Freedom and the Second Amendment... One cannot exist without the other." © 2000 DTH

February 5, 2020, 12:32 PM	#4
FrontierGander Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: Boncarbo,Colorado Posts: 651	laural mountain forge, a thin paint brush. Each stripe got between 4 to 6 coats before being buffed back with 0000 steel wool. I didnt want crazy striping, just enough to make the wood pop out a little in the sun light. This was probably my best work at faux striping. __________________ https://buckskinsbp.blogspot.com/

February 5, 2020, 03:42 PM	#5
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	One of the best finished kits, I have seen !!! Very nice work and you managed to maintain some sharp lines and finish. Did not know that they are now suppling these with Delrin rods. I put mine together about 10 years ago and it was Hickory. I always like the option of having both rods, optional. ….. Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

February 5, 2020, 09:36 PM	#6
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	Good job! How hard was it? I read Traditions and shuddered at the thought. I did the smaller trapper pistol and had to re-drill the ramrod hole and file down the drum to provide clearance for the lock. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 5, 2020, 12:01 PM	#3
spitpatch Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 171	Very nice. What process did you use to get the tiger stripes?

February 5, 2020, 09:39 PM	#7
FrontierGander Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: Boncarbo,Colorado Posts: 651	this one fell right into place. I love working with the traditions guns. I'll be doing one, possibly two, for the rendezvous this june as a give away. __________________ https://buckskinsbp.blogspot.com/ Last edited by FrontierGander; February 7, 2020 at 01:58 PM.

February 6, 2020, 01:15 PM	#8
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	That is probably the best looking kit gun I've ever seen. Steve

February 6, 2020, 03:46 PM	#9
J.G. Terry Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2014 Posts: 577	No doubt, that is a topnotch job. __________________ Intentionally Antagonizing Another MemberInsults and Ad Hominems

February 6, 2020, 05:23 PM	#10
Oliver Sudden Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 272	Both rifles are very nice. Your finish work is enviable! You might consider doing some shaping on the lock panels on your next one to move it up to even a better looking job. None the less they will be real fine prizes.

February 7, 2020, 01:44 PM	#11
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	Beautiful rifle. You did an excellent job on it.

February 7, 2020, 03:37 PM	#12
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	That's awfully nice of you FrontierGander to make it for a giveaway. Did you go to the Rendezvous at Whittington Center last year? I didn't make it. I just came back from Friendship and had too many things to catch up on. I hope to attend this year (2020) and would like to meet you. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 9, 2020, 01:48 PM	#13
Deltadart Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 286	That is a beautiful rifle, great work.

February 11, 2020, 01:10 PM	#14
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	Sweet !

February 12, 2020, 03:41 PM	#15
Catman42 Member Join Date: September 15, 2019 Posts: 78	i dont get the st. louis part of it. its a traditions. your improving but need a better stain. your not getting that beech wood stock to be what it could be. again a traditions is a traditions, nothing like a st. louis gun by hawken. nice tack job on the other one you posted. do better on the stain next time.

February 12, 2020, 06:44 PM	#17
FrontierGander Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: Boncarbo,Colorado Posts: 651	Yes I did Gary, I was there the whole week and will be there again this year. Im helping out with the rendezvous this year. Last saturday and the booshway and a buddy of mine got together and cleaned out the supply shed, built shelves and took note of what we need to upgrade this year. __________________ https://buckskinsbp.blogspot.com/

February 13, 2020, 02:24 AM	#19
FrontierGander Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Location: Boncarbo,Colorado Posts: 651	theres nothing wrong with the stain, its even and highlights the wood. It was very plain except for the forearm i pictured above. I added the faux striping to help add a little something to the rather plain wood. If I wanted something super fancy I'd have bought a more expensive kit, but then again, that would have added more cost. __________________ https://buckskinsbp.blogspot.com/

February 13, 2020, 11:45 AM	#20
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	Most Excellent Job !!! Both wood and metal show a lot of careful hand work and attention to detail . Gary

February 15, 2020, 10:32 AM	#21
woodnbow Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2012 Posts: 190	I’ve always heard they are good shooters. Now it looks as good as it shoots.